Day 1 – 2 Urumqi
On day 1, upon arrival you will be met by your English-speaking private tour guide and transferred to your hotel. Urumqi is an ancient stopover on the Silk Route. The next day, Begin your escorted China tour of the Silk Road with a relaxing drive to the beautiful Lake of Heaven where you will experience breathtaking views of a crystal clear lake with the backdrop of the spectacular Tianshan Mountain Range. Traditional yurts are scattered in the areas. This evening, sample a local specialty Urgher meal of Lamb Skewers.(1B/1D)
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Day 3 – 4 Kashgar
After your morning flight to the frontier town of Kashgar, you will enjoy a private tour of China’s largest mosque - Id Kah Mosque to see the magnificent Islamic architecture and learn a bit more about the Islamic life of Uygur people, and then wander through the back streets of the old town, enjoying the history and culture of travelling the silk road. Enjoy a local specialty dinner. The next morning, your Silk Road adventure tour will take you on an exploration of the fascinating Sunday Bazaar and its animal trading market. It is renowned as the biggest market in central Asia and is a pivotal trading point along the Silk Road where goods have been traded for more than two thousand years. Afternoon transfer to the train station for a soft sleeper overnight train to Turpan . (2B/1D)
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Day 5 – 6 Turpan
Turpan is an old Silk Road oasis and, after the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is for you to experience at your own leisure. The next day, Visit one of the world's architectural wonders - the ruined city of Jiaohe, and then see the richly coloured Flaming Mountains and Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. Visit local families at Grape Valley, enjoy a homemade lunch and witness the amazing 2000 year old Irrigation Canals that are still in use today. After dinner, you are transferred to the train station for your private cabin overnight train to Dunhuang. Dunhuang was the hub of middle and eastern silk route in ancient times. (B/D)
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Day 7 – 8 Dunhuang
Morning arrive Liuyuan and transferred to Dunhuang hotel for the breakfast and rest. In the afternoon, enjoy a camel ride at Crescent Moon Spring and Singing Sang Dunes, view the magnificent desert scenery, enjoy a dinner at a local farmer’s house. On day 8 of your Silk Road tour, you will visit one of the highlights of this trip, the splendid Mogao Cave – home to the world acclaimed Buddhist murals and sculptures dated back to 386AD, and then private transfer to Jiayuguan, where desert is flanked by snow-capped peaks. (2B/1D)
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Day 9 Jiayuguan / Lanzhou
This morning’s Silk Road adventure starts with a visit to an ancient frontier Jiayu Fortress, which is set between the mountains of Qilian to the South and Mazong Mountain to the North, and then the Western end of the Great Wall for spectacular views over this wild and magnificent region, afternoon flight to Lanzhou. Lanzhou was once a major transport hub and garrison on the Silk Road trading route. (B)
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Day 10 Lanzhou
Enjoy a morning drive to the beautiful Lioujiaxia Lake and then take a small speed boat to visit the renowned Bilingsi Caves, where you see amazing Buddhist artwork carved into the cliff face, afternoon wander along the banks of the Yellow River and climb up to the peak of White Pagoda Hill for incredible views of the city. Sample the local specialty – “Hand Stretched Noodles Dinner” before an early evening flight to Xian. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel.(B/D)
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Day 11-12 Xi’an
Visit the historical significance of the amazing Terracotta Warriors - where 7000 individually crafted clay soldiers stand on guard. Learn how to make these warriors at a workshop. Afternoon stroll on the original City Wall and explore the back streets of the Old Muslim Quarters and the Old Mosque Enjoy a local specialty – dumpling dinner before being entertained by the beautiful Tang Dynasty Culture Show. Your Silk Road adventure tour concludes with hotel/airport transfer on day 12. We can extend this tour to Beijing or Shanghai or any city in China. (2B/1D)
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